Improved eaileoad-eail coupling



W.. S. MALLORY.

RAILROAD RAIL COUPLING.

Patented Feb. 11

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WILLIAM s. MALLQRYQOF Burst IA, nwYoRjK.

Lam Patent No. v4,'sss,-dmctmm1 11, 1868.

IMPROVED RAILROAD-RAIL COUPLING.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. MALLORY, of the town .of Batavia, in the county of Geuesee, and State of New York, have invented. a new and improved Rail-Goupling,- to couple and support the ends of the rails at the jpint, and for some distance each way from the ends; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description ther'eof,,'reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked'thereon:

To enable others skilled in therart to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I make two sections of rails, (to, and, for coupling-pieces, two pieces of .hard timber, 'd d, three feet long or more, about four by eight inches, resting upon three or more ties or cross pieces,--and made to fit into the hollow of the rail, on both sides of said pieces, so that by changing sides, in case of wear or warping, or any other cause, the same may be turned 'over or around. by changing ends, and thus either side may be adapted to the hollow of the rail, and much more accurately adjusted thereto than it can be with iron splices or chairs. These splices are bolted by a screw-bolt, g, Figures 1 and 2, to the tie or cross-piece 6, upon which the ends of the rails rest, which may eitherpass entirely through said cross-piece, and be held and tightened from time to time by a nut on the end of said bolt, or it may pass partly through said tie or cross-piece, which will serve as aunt, and the same may ,be tightened by means of the head of the screw-bolt, and thus the tie or cross-piece will be held suspended, a's'it were, independent of resting upon the ground, if, by accident or otherwise, the ground should be'removed from beneath said cross-piece, and can be tightened up and always held firmly under the ends of the rails, and their upper surfaces kept upon a level. This cross-piece or tie, upon which the ends oi, the rails re'st,and to which the splices or coupling arc bolted, may be made of iron,- extending across and under the rails, and thus firmly stifi'en: and steady the superstructure of the track. The splices may'be fasten-ed to the cross-piece by means of a bolt, h, figs.1 and 2, which-has a slot in the lower end for the key, letter 7:, figs. 1 and 2, and a bolt, on, with a slot therein, passing up through a portionof the cross-piece, and so arranged that the key Itwill pass through the slots of both bolts, and key the same, and by means thereof said cross-tie will be held suspended firmly under the ends of the rails, and can be tightened up from time'to time by driving the key so as to secure an even upper surface upon the ends of the rails, or the bolt It may passthrough the crosspiece, and be secured by:a key on the under side or on the upper side of the cross-piece, and tightened from time to time; The head of the bolt I: is made of suflicient length, and sunk into the coupling or splice so as to give strength to the same, and both bolts, h and g, serve the purpose of a spike in hdlding the rails to their place, and prevent the spread of the track; and in case of a rail breaking near the end, where-they generally fail, bymeans of the coupling the train will be carried safely over the broken rail. The coupling or splice is spiked to all the other cross-pieces or ties upon which it rests, in the usual manner, and they are secured, in addition, byeither iron or wooden keys, placed in mortises in the ties or otherwise on the outside, and bearing against the splice, so that wedges in effect upon one side will closely adjust the splices to the hollow of both rails, as they will, the keys being driven 'upon one side, drawthe tie and tighten the splice upon the other side. I also bed into the cross-piece b, on a level with the upper surface thereof, one or more light plates of iron, upon which the ends of the rails shall rest, and prevent the wear of the cross-tic, and still obviate the objection of havin g an elevated piece of iron under the ends of the rails, and producingmore or less concussion in the pas sage of trains.

By my invention above described, many important advantages are'secured. I secure, as near as practicable, an even upper surface of the ends of the rails, as from time to time the cross-piece or tie, upon which they rest, ,is adjusted and held firmly in position. As the coupling is supported by three or more ties, the rocking motion, caused by the depression of the end of one rail and the elevation of the other, is prevented, thus lessening the great concussion upon the ends of the railsjas trains pass over'them. Accidents are prevented, which are'caused by the breaking of rails, as the length of the coupling will carry the train safely over the broken rail, and the breaking of the web or lower flange of the rail is entirely obviated. An accurate adjustment to and support of the rails is secured much-'more perfectly than can he done in fitting iron to iron; The pounding of the engine and trains upon irregular and elevated masses of iron at the joints of the rails is avoided, which continually wears use; 2

outthe rails, increases the draught, endangefe their safety, and adds to the disconifoyt of iii-evening. The track is prevented from spreading, and a. strohg support efl'orded at curves. There is also secilred a s near as practicable, the x ightemount of yielding ma'teiial in the superstruotore of'railroada, necessary to the'eafe and comfortable, a nqi p'gofitable or ecimomi cal: operation thereof. ;The'reils can be removed and, replaced without disturbing the coupling.

.Having thus described my invention; Iehim as, follows I. I claim the arrangement and combination of the kayak, slotted bolts 1; and 'm', and splice pieces d, in their relation to the raileot' erailroad, in the inannei and fo'rithepu iposes hereinodescyibefl;

2. I also elaini the combination of the: oehtr ellsplioe-pieee with its p] ate,'-n;=in combioetionwit-h the-rails am, the 'same being held'i place and positioo-bymehe of lierwejarid-keyea'nd; bo1ts,; ih' the mennerand for the purpose herein described.

' W. S. MALLORY.

Witnesses:

G. H. Hommn, 0'. A. Hun. 

